Insulated rail joint



Patented Mar. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE EDWARDS F. 'SCHERM ERIOIR-l.\l',l OF- BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK, ASSIGNO TO THE RAIL JOINT COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK INSULATED RAIL JOINT Application filed .Tuly 17,

This invention relates to insulated rail Ajoints of the type in which the splice bar re- A particular object of the invention is toL provide an insulating structure for rail joints which is so designed as to avoid any shearing action of the rail and the joint bar upon the insulating member interposed between the rail and the bar.

Another object of the invention is to provide an insulating structure for rail joints which is so designed that the insulating member between the rail and the joint bar is selfadjusting to an operative position with respect to both the rail and the bar when the bar is drawn intol operative lrelation to the rail.

lWith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinaftervmore fully def scribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the dierent views Figure 1 is a transverse section through one side of a railjoint insulated according to K one practical embodiment of the present in- 1930. serial 110.488,690.

type in which the rail head 10 has the approximate conformation of an inverted, truncated pyramid which is merged with the web 11 of the rail by the head fillet 12, and it is with this type of rail that the present insulating structure is particularly adapted for use; but as will hereinafter appear the invention is capable of equally advantageous use in any instancewhere thesplice bar B receives its load through ,the head fillet of the rail, irrespective of whether the rail is or is not of the headfree design shown. 1

In accordance with each embodiment of the invention thesplicebar B is provided at its upper, inner corner with a depression 13, forming a transversely arcuate seat or surface 14 which extends longitudinally throughout the'length of the splice bar and which is disposed in opposed, spaced relation to the rail head fillet 12. Also, in accordance with each embodiment of the invention, an insulating unit 15 is interposed between the rail head fillet 12 and the arcuate surface 14 of the splice barbut as lwill be evident from an inspection of the different figures of the drawings, this insulating unit may take dierent forms.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings for example, the insulating unit 15 takes the form of a tube 16 of fibre or other insulating material which issupported against collapse vby means of a rod or core 17 of metal or other suitable material disposedwithin and close'- ly fitting the same, the `said tube and rod pref? erably being of circular cross section and of any suitable radius no greater and preferably slightly less than the radii ofthe rail head fillet 12 and the arcuate surface 14 of the splice bar.

On the other hand, referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be observed that the insulating unit 15 may take the form of a solid rod 18 of fibre or'other insulating material having preferably a circular cross section and a radius no greater and preferably slightly less than the radii of the rail head fillet 12 `and the arcuate surfacel of the splice bar.

Alternatively, yreferring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will be observed ythat the insulating unit 15 may comprise a sheet of insulalil tion 19 of suitable thickness bent to fit the rail head fillet 12 and to extend any suitable distance outward over the top of the splice bar and downward along the rail web. In this event a rod of either metal or insulating material, preferably of circular cross section, is interposed between the sheet of insulation 19 and the splice bar, the same fitting at one side against the arcuately curved sur` face of the insulating sheet where same is bent to fit the head fillet of the rail, and at its opposite side fitting against the arcuate seat or surface 14 of the splice bar. With such a construction the arcuate surface 14 of the splice bar has a radius somewhat less than that illustrated in the examples of Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and the rod 20 is of correspondingly less diameter than the insulating members of Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

As is apparent, due to the' arcuate vcurvature of vthe rail head fillet 12and 'of the seat or surface 14 of the splice bar, and to the cir# cular or substantially circular cross-sectional shape of the insulating members of llligs. 1 and 2, and of the rod 20 of Fig. 3, the insulat-V ing member in each embodiment of the invention will be self-adjusting to an operative position between the railand the splice bar when the latter is drawn into operative relation to the rail. Moreover, it is manifest, due to the radius of the insulating members 16 and 18of Figs. 1 and 2, respectively, being less, or at least no greater, than the radii of the rail head fillet 12 and the surface 14 of the splice bar, and due to the radius of the rod 2O of Fig. 3 being less or at least no greater than the radii of the surface 14 of the splice bar and of the outer face of the 'insulating sheet 19 where same is bent to fit the rail head fillet, that in each embodiment of the invent-ion any tendency of the rail and the splice bar to impose a shearing stress on the insulation is avoided, since the insulation is not subjected to the cutting or shearing action of any sharp or relatively sharp corners.

The recess 13 in the splice bar is` easy to produce by a rolling process or any other manner during forming of the 'splice bar, and, likewise, the insulating members 16 and 18 of Figs. 1 and 2 and the sheet 19 and rod 2O of Fig. 3 are relatively cheap and easy to produce and to assemble'in a joint, the fact thatthe` insulating unit 1,5 is self-adjusting in each instance to an operative position with respect to the rail and the s lice'bar contributing materially to the esirability of the present insulating structure from an installation standpoint. And, r`as heretofore stated, due to the provision of a structure which eliminates any shearing stress on the insulating member, said member is required to sustain only compressive forces and its longevity is thereby assured. Y

At the base of the rail the insulation may be of the conventional form consisting fory example of a sheet of insulation 21 interposed between the rail and the foot of the splice bar, and in this connection it will be understood, of course, that the splice bar may be in general contour of any well known or desired type. Moreover, it will be appreciated that if the rail joint is of a type in which the splicebar takes loading engagement at its base with the base fillet of the rail, either of the insulating `structures herein shown `as beingembodied in therjoint at the head of the rail may be embodied in the joint at the base of the rail.

Without further description it is thought that the features and advantages of the inA vention will be readily apparent vto those skilled inthe art, and it will of course be understood that changes in .the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

' I claim:

l1*. "In a rail joint, the rail having a head fillet, the splice bar provided in its inner upper corner with a seat, and self-adjusting insulating means interposed between said rail head fillet and said seat in the splice bar.

2. In a rail joint, the rail having a head fillet, the splice bar provided in its inner upper corner with an arcuately curved seat, and insulating means constructed to be self-adjusting to a seat against lthe rail head fillet andV said arcuately curved seat in the splice bar when the latter is drawn intooperative relation to the rail.

In a rail joint, the rail having. a head fillet, thesplice bar, an rinsulating unit interposed between the rail head fillet and the inner upper corner ofthe splice bar, said unit including means to prevent shearing action of the rail and the splice bar upon the insulatin unit.

4. n a rail joint, Vthe rail having a head fillet, the splic'ebar recessed at its inner upper cornerto provide an arcuately curved surface, and an insulating member of substantially 'circular cross-section interposed between said rail head fillet and said arcuately curved splice bar surface. 5. In a rail joint, the rail having a head fillet, the splice bar recessed at its inner up# per corner to provide an arcuately curved surface, and an insulating member of substantially Vcircular cross section interposed between said rail head fillet and said arcuately curved splice bar surface,-the radius of said Vinsulating member being no greater than the radius of either the railV head fillet or the arcuately curved splice bar surface.

6. vIn a rail Vjoint, the rail having. a head fillet, the splice bar recessed at its inner upper corner tov provide an arcuately curved `surface, andan insulating member of substantially circular crossy sectiony interposed be- L39 tween said rail head fillet and said arcuately curved splice bar surface, the radius of said insulating member being less than the radii of said rail head fillet and said arcuately curved splice bar surface.

7 In a rail joint, the rail having a head fillet, the splice bar recessed at its inner upper corner to provide an arcuately curved surface, and an insulating member of substantially circular cross section interposed between said rail head fillet and said arcuately curved splice bar surface, said insulating member comprising a tube having a metal core.

8. In a rail joint, the rail, the splice bar, an insulating member interposed between the rail andthe splice bar, means whereby said insulating member is self-adjustable to an operative position with respect to the rail and the splice bar when the latter is drawn into operative relation to the rail, and means whereby any shearing action of the rail and the splice bar upon the insulating member is avoided.

9. In a rail joint, the rail having a head lillet, the splice bar recessed at its inner upper corner to provide an arcuate surface, a sheet of insulation shaped to fit the rail head fillet, and a rod interposed between said sheet of insulation and said arcuately curved splice bar surface.

10. In a rail joint, t-he rail having a head fillet, the splice bar recessed at its inner upper corner to provide an arcuate surface, a sheet of insulation shaped to fit the rail head fillet, and a rod interposed between said sheet of insulation and said arcuately curved splice bar surface, said rod being of substantially circular cross section and having a radius no greater than the radius of the outer face of the insulating sheet where the same is curved to fit the rail head lillet and no greater than the radius of said arcuately curved splice bar surface.

11. In a rail joint, the rail having a head fillet, the splice bar recessed at its inner upper corner to provide an arcuate surface, a sheet of insulation shaped to lit the rail head iillet, and a rod interposed between said sheet of insulation and said arcuately curved splice bar surface, said rod being of substantially circular cross section and having a radius less than the radius of the outer face of said insulating sheet where the saine is curved to fit the rail head fillet and less than the radius of said arcuately curved splice bar surface.

12. An insulated rail joint including the rail, the splice bar, and a cylindrical insulating unit interposed between the rail and the splice bar. 1

13. In a rail joint, the rail having a head fillet, the splice bar provided at its inner upper corner with a seat, and an insulating unit of cylindrical cross section interposed between said rail head llet and said splice bar seat.

14. In a rail joint, the rail, the splice bar, and an insulating unit interposed between the rail and the splice bar and having convex surfaces respectively engaging the rail and the splice bar.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EDWARDS F. SCHERMERHORN. 

